Bushing repairing method and tool

ABSTRACT

A bushing replacement tool including a saddle member to embrace and permit lowering of an end of the control arm of a front wheel assembly of a vehicle for servicing or removal of a bushing thereof. The saddle member is attached to a threaded shaft which imparts upward and downward movement of the saddle member as desired. The shaft is supported in a support bracket of the support member which is adapted to be attached to the underside of the vehicle.

United States Patent 1191 Castoe BUSHING REPAIRING METHOD AND TOOL [75] Inventor:

John H. Castoe, Sunland, Calif.

Branick Manufacturing Company, Fargo, N. Dak.

Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 Appl. No.: 240,352

Assignee:

US. Cl 254/100, 254/133, 29/256 Field of Search 254/1, 100, 98, 133; 29/256-259 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1925 Tague 29/256 UX 12/1926 Burt 8/1930 Stancliff 29/256 Int. Cl. B66f 3/36, B66f 3/00 Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson AttorneyRoy E. Petherbridgeet al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A bushing replacement tool including a saddle member to embrace and permit lowering of an end of the control arm of a front wheel assembly of a vehicle for servicing or removal of a bushing thereof. The saddle member is attached to a threaded shaft which imparts upward and downward movement of the saddle member as desired. The shaft is supported in a support bracket of the support member which is adapted to be attached to the underside of the vehicle.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED 05625 I975 BUSHING REPAIRING METHOD AND TOOL BACKGROUND. OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to tools for repairing vehicles and in particular to a novel bushing repairing method and tool.

More specifically, the invention relates to a bushing repair or replacement method and tool wherein there is provided easily andiefficiently permits the replacementor repair of the inner bushing of a lower control arm of a automobile and the like. The tool herein disclosed includes a saddle which contacts the arm adjacent the bushing to allow the members to be lowered downward to a position where a repairman may readily have access to the bushing for performing any desired service thereon. The saddle is supported by means of a threaded shaft assembly which is adapted to be clamped to the underside of the vehicle.

It is a common expediency in the automotive industry to "attach the lower control arm of a wheel assembly to a vehicle with the aid of an inner bushing provided at the inner end of the control arm. In operation of the vehicle, it'often occurs that the inner bushing becomes damaged or worn to an extent that erratic steering or excessive tire wear can be encountered.

Known techniques of removing or replacing worn bushings is a time consuming and tedious operation. Since the lower control arm of the vehicle is heavily loaded by the compression spring of the wheel assembly, it is difficult to both loosen the control arm from attachment to the vehicle body and provide access to the internal bushing. The current technique of replacing bushings often involves the removal of various elements of the front assembly in a manner that the bushing can be removed. These prior art methods are not satisfactory because it is extremely time consuming and difficult to remove a plurality of elements from the wheel assembly in order to replace the bushing. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a vehicle bushing replacement tool which effectively and quickly achieves the necessary repair of the defective part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to improve the repair or replacement of a bushing and the like on a vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to improve the tool utilized in the removal of a bushing and the like.

A further object of this invention is to reduce the timerequired in replacing or repairing the inner bushing of a control arm.

Still another object of this invention is to reduce the cost and the amount of labor required in repairing a bushing.

These and other objects are attained in accordance with'the 'presentinvention wherein there is provided a novel bushing replacement tool having means to relieve the tension existing on a control arm. to permit the attachment means connecting the arm to a vehicle to be removed. After removal of the attachement means, the tool supports the control arm and bushing of the wheel assembly and-the armmay be lowered to a position where the bushing canbe readily serviced. During the repair of the bushing utilizing the tool of the invention, no removal of any element except the bolt attaching the control arm to the chassis of the vehicle is required to thus reducethe time and labor required by the prior techniquesof replacing bushings.

The tool is attached to the vehicle body and safely and effectively supports one end of the lower control arm of the wheel assembly to permit the necessary service to be achieved. The end of the control arm is lowered to a service position and after servicing is returned to an operative position where the attachment means may be reinserted to attach the arm and bushing into position on the vehicle. The construction of the tool herein disclosed is economical to manufacture and reduces the considerable time consuming labor to repair such bushings as required by the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects of the invention together with additional features contributing thereto and advantages accruing therefrom will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side schematic illustration of the bushing replacement tool of the invention in operative position on a vehicle with a bushing in its normal attached position;

FIG. 2 is a side schematic illustration of the bushing replacement tool of FIG. 1 in operative position on the vehicle with the bushing in a lowered service position;

FIG. 3 is a.end schematic illustration of the bushing replacement tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top schematic illustration of the support plate of the tool of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated an embodiment of the bushing replacement tool of the invention in operative mounted position on the underside of a vehicle. Bushing replacement tool 1 includes a base plate 2 which is adapted to be secured to the under side ofa vehicle such as frame member 3 of a vehicle body. Base or bracket plate 2 comprises an elongated flat member including a first portion 4 adapted to contact the bottom of vehicle frame 3. Base plate 2 possesses an elongated hole 2a through first portion 4 which receives a bolt 5 extending from a hole in the frame through the hole 5 wherein a nut 6 and cover element 6a affixes the support plate to the underside of the automobile. The upper end of bolt 5 includes a hook end to aid in the securement of the bolt to vehicle frame.

Base plate 2 further includes a second portion 7 which is bent downward from the underside of the automobile when in an operative position in a manner that an end 8 of the support plate is at a lower orientation relative to the automobile than portion 4 in contact with frame 3. Angled portion 7 of the support plate is afiixed to the automobile frame by means of a bolt member 9 having an upper hook element 10 adapted to engage a portion of the frame for securement thereto. The lower portion of bolt 9 is threaded whereby a hole 2b provided in angled portion 7 of the base plate receives the bolt and a nut 12 and cover element 12a affixes the support plate to the vehicle. A collar or sleeve 20 is suitably affixed to the bottom end of lower portion 7 by soldering and the like whereby the end of sleeve 20 projects beyond the end of plate member 2. An inner shaft member 21 having an enlarged head portion 22 to abut an end of sleeve extends in a fixed relation through the sleeve and projects beyond the end thereof. If desired, the shaft may also be rotatably supported within the sleeve to permit angular manipulation of shaft 21 for adjusting purposes, if desired. A hole is provided in the portio n of shaft 21 extending beyond sleeve 20 and is adapted to receive a threaded shaft 24. The lower end of the threaded shaft 24 includes a conventional head element 25 to permit a user of the tool to rotate the threaded shaft and effect relative movement between the shaft and stationary mounted shaft 21.

A saddle member is suitably affixed to the upper end of threaded shaft 24 wherein the saddle member possesses a curved upper surface 31 to embrace and contact a portion of the lower control arm 32 of a wheel assembly of the vehicle. The saddle member is attached to the end of threaded shaft 24 by means of a groove and ring element 33 which allows shaft 24 to rotate relative to the saddle. A ball bearing 33a is interposed between the end of shaft 24 and saddle 30 to improve the relative rotational movement between the elements. As best shown in FIG. 3, saddle portion 34 of the saddle member is wider than the lower sleeve portion which receives the end of threaded shaft 24.

In use of the tool of the invention, the tool is attached to a lower cross member 3 of the frame of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 1 and is affixed thereto. The threaded shaft 24 is rotated to effect upward movement of the saddle until the curved upper surface 31 thereof contacts the lower control arm. The nut and washer of the chamber bolt (not shown) which affixes the control arm to the frame is initially removed and saddle 30 is raised through rotation of threaded shaft 24 an amount sufficient to reduce the bias on the control arm bolt exerted by the compression spring and the weight of the vehicle. The camber bolt then is easily removed to free lower control arm 32 which is then supported by tool the camber bolt and nut inserted to attach the arm to the frame. Although the invention has been described with specific reference to repairing bushings, it is also within the scope of the invention to utilize the tool in other operations if desired.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for the elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential teaching.

What is claimed is:

1. A bushing repair tool comprising bracket means adapted to be removably attached to the underside of the frame of a vehicle,

a threaded shaft rotatably mounted to the bracket means to effect lateral movement of the shaft relative to the bracket means upon rotation of the shaft, 7

a saddle member attached to an end of the shaft to I contact and support a workpiece,

the bracket means includes an elongated member,

a portion of the elongated member includes a surface to flatly contact underside of the frame,

the bracket means includes a projection having a threaded hole through which the threaded shaft is rotatably mounted, and

said projection being positioned on the elongated member remote from the surface contacting the frame.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the elongated member includes means forming a pair of holes adapted to receive bolt means attaching the bracket means to the support member.

3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the projection is a rod.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said rod is supported by a sleeve affixed to the bracket means.

5. The tool of claim 1 wherein the saddle member includes a concave workpiece contracting surface.

6. The tool of claim 1 wherein the portion of the elongated member not contacting the underside of a frame angularly projects from the first portion. 

1. A bushing repair tool comprising bracket means adapted to be removably attached to the underside of the frame of a vehicle, a threaded shaft rotatably mounted to the bracket means to effect lateral movement of the shaft relative to the bracket means upon rotation of the shaft, a saddle member attached to an end of the shaft to contact and support a workpiece, the bracket means includes an elongated member, a portion of the elongated member includes a surface to flatly contact underside of the frame, the bracket means includes a projection having a threaded hole through which the threaded shaft is rotatably mounted, and said projection being positioned on the elongated member remote from the surface contacting the frame.
 2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the elongated member includes means forming a pair of holes adapted to receive bolt means attaching the bracket means to the support member.
 3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the projection is a rod.
 4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said rod is supported by a sleeve affixed to the bracket means.
 5. The tool of claim 1 wherein the saddle member includes a concave workpiece contracting surface.
 6. The tool of claim 1 wherein the portion of the elongated member not contacting the underside of a frame angularly projects from the first portion. 